Mono-wheel vehicle with tilt mechanism

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention a mono-wheel vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a housing with an inner circumference. A wheel is connected to the housing such that the wheel is able to rotate independently of the housing. The wheel has an outside portion that makes contact with a surface. A motor mechanism is provided for rotation of the wheel. Gyroscopic forces acting on the rotating wheel maintain the vehicle in a substantially upright position such that the vehicle is able to travel along the surface in a first direction. A platform connected to the inner circumference of the housing is pivotable in relation to the housing to causes a change in a center of gravity. The change in center of gravity causes the gyroscopic forces acting on the vehicle to turn the vehicle towards the changing center of gravity in order to maintain the vehicle in a more upright position.

1. A mono-wheel vehicle comprising:
 a housing having an inner circumference; 
 a wheel connected to the housing such that the wheel can rotate independently of said housing, said wheel having an outside portion that makes contact with a surface; 
 a means for rotating said wheel, wherein when said wheel is rotating, gyroscopic forces acting on the vehicle maintain said rotating wheel in a substantially upright position and traveling along the surface in a first direction; 
 a platform connected to the inner circumference of the housing; 
 a mechanically operated means for pivoting the platform to cause a change in a center of gravity, wherein the change in center of gravity causes the gyroscopic forces acting on the vehicle to turn the vehicle towards the changing center of gravity to maintain the vehicle in an upright direction; 
 a circuit board secured within the housing and a receiver in communication with the circuit board; and 
 a remote control unit with a transmitter to send commands to the receiver, such that the circuit board can adjust a speed of the vehicle and adjust the means for pivoting the platform in response to said commands. 
 
   
   
     2. The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the means for pivoting the platform is a tilt mechanism secured between the housing and the platform. 
   
   
     3. The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein said tilt mechanism includes a servo. 
   
   
     4. The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein said servo is remotely controlled. 
   
   
     5. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wheel has two sides with a rim extending outwardly from each side; and 
 the housing includes a plurality of bearing pairs, each bearing pair having a space defined therebetween to receive said rim defined on either side of the wheel, such that the wheel is rotatably secured within the housing. 
 
   
   
     6. The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the means for rotating said wheel includes a motor secured within the housing, the motor drives a gear which is meshed to an annular rack defined on the wheel. 
   
   
     7. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said wheel has a flat outer surface such that the vehicle is able to be positioned in a substantially upright position when not moving. 
   
   
     8. The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said wheel has a rounded outer surface. 
   
   
     9. The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the wheel has an outer surface with a low surface friction such that the vehicle is able to turn at slower speeds. 
   
   
     10. A toy mono-wheel vehicle comprising:
 a housing having a plurality of bearings; 
 a wheel having an annular rim extending outwardly from a side of said wheel, the rim being captured by said bearings such that said wheel is freely rotatable within the housing, the wheel having an outside portion for contact with a surface; 
 a means for rotating said wheel independently of said housing; and 
 a mechanically operated tilt mechanism secured to an inner circumference defined by said housing, the tilt mechanism having a means to pivot it sideways relative to said housing, such that when the tilt mechanism pivots to a side, the center of gravity of the vehicle changes causing the vehicle to turn into the pivoting tilt mechanism, and 
 wherein said means to pivot the tilt mechanism to a side of the housing includes a servo operably connecting the tilt mechanism to the housing. 
 
   
   
     11. The toy vehicle of  claim 10  further comprising a circuit board to control the pivoting means and to control the rotating means. 
   
   
     12. The toy vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the circuit board includes pre-programmed commands to control a degree of pivoting of the tilt mechanism and a speed of the rotating means. 
   
   
     13. The toy vehicle of  claim 10  further comprising a remote control unit to send commands to the circuit board to control the pivoting means and to control the rotating means. 
   
   
     14. The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the outer portion of the wheel is flat such that the vehicle is able to stand in an upright position when not moving. 
   
   
     15. The toy vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the outer portion of the wheel has a low surface friction. 
   
   
     16. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the means for rotating said wheel independently of said housing includes:
 a motor secured within the housing; 
 a rack positioned on the wheel; and 
 a gear train driven by the motor and meshed to the rack. 
 
   
   
     17. A mono-wheel vehicle comprising:
 a housing, 
 a wheel having a center axis, the wheel being secured to the housing such that the wheel is capable of rotation about its center axis independently of said housing, the wheel having an outside portion for contact with a surface and an annular rack; 
 a motor secured to the housing and operably connected to the annular rack, such that when operating, the motor rotates the annular rack and drives the wheel, which when in contact with a surface is able to propel the vehicle across the surface, and wherein when said wheel is rotating, gyroscopic forces acting on the vehicle maintain said rotating wheel in a substantially upright position and traveling along the surface in a first direction; 
 a platform pivotally connected by a mechanically operated tilting means to an inner circumference defined by the housing, wherein the tilting of said platform causes a change in a center of gravity that causes the gyroscopic forces acting on the vehicle to turn the vehicle towards the changing center of gravity to maintain the vehicle in an upright direction; 
 a circuit board secured within the housing and a receiver in communication with the circuit board; and 
 a remote control unit with a transmitter to send commands to the receiver, such that the circuit board can adjust a speed of the vehicle and adjust the mechanically operated tilting means for pivoting the platform in response to said commands. 
 
   
   
     18. The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said wheel further includes an annular rim extending outwardly therefrom and the annular rack is positioned on an inner circumference of the wheel, and 
 said housing further includes a plurality of bearings defined to capture said rim, such that the wheel is rotatably secured within the housing. 
 
   
   
     19. The vehicle of  claim 17  wherein the outside portion of the wheel is flat such that the vehicle can be positioned in a substantially upright position when not moving. 
   
   
     20. The vehicle of  claim 17  wherein the outside portion of the wheel has a low surface friction. 
   
   
     21. A toy mono-wheel vehicle comprising:
 a centerless mono-wheel; 
 a driving mechanism to rotate the wheel, wherein when the mono-wheel rotates at significant speeds, gyroscopic forces acting on the wheel maintain the wheel in a substantially upright position; 
 a mechanically operated steering mechanism to turn the vehicle; and 
 a receiver to receive commands to control the steering mechanism and the driving mechanism. 
 
   
   
     22. The vehicle of  claim 21  wherein the wheel includes an outside surface that is flat such that the vehicle is able to stand in a substantially upright position when the wheel is not rotating. 
   
   
     23. The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein mechanically operated steering mechanism to turn the vehicle is a platform pivotably secured about the wheel, wherein when the platform is pivoted sideways the vehicle turn into the pivot as gyroscopic forces act on the vehicle to sustain the vehicle in a substantially upright position.